The smarter way to get
any loan in Canada

Smarter Loans is Canada's largest loan platform. We help Canadians find trusted lenders for personal, business, auto, equipment, mortgage, and other types of loans—all in one place. On Smarter Loans you can apply to over 50 of the top loan providers in Canada.  Smarter Loans helps people make smarter financial decisions by educating them about Canada's most innovative financial products, and helping them apply to Canada's top financial companies in a safe, fast and convenient way.

To let us help you find the most suitable loan provider, you will need to provide some basic personal info like your name, email, location, phone. You will also be asked specific loan questions to help us narrow down the search, this includes things like requested loan amount, employment status, income, reason for taking out the loan, and if there are any current debts. We also do an optional "soft" credit check via Transunion, in order to show you real-time offers from lenders faster and more accurately. This does not impact your credit score and this information is never shared with 3rd parties.

Qualification requirements to obtain a loan vary depending on the type of loan you are looking for and the lender you've chosen. Explore the various lenders listed on Smarter Loans to see exactly what their qualification requirements are. Typical requirements include being over the age of majority, a Canadian resident, and steady income from employment. For business loans, you will need to show steady and provide bank statements.

Yes. Many of our lending partners offer loans for individuals with fair or poor credit, including bad credit personal loans, business loans, auto loans, and secured options. Keep in mind, that having bad credit will have an impact on interest rates that you might be charged. Please review the terms of any loan agreement before taking out a loan.

Yes, Smarter Loans works with loan providers for any type of loan and all over Canada.

When comparing loans, consider more than just the interest rate. Look at:

Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which includes fees
Repayment term length
Loan flexibility (early payment penalties, top-up options)
Customer reviews and lender reputation

Requirements vary by lender but typically include a valid ID, proof of income or bank statements, and sometimes a credit check.

Yes. All companies listed on Smarter Loans have met the quality standards required to be listed on our website.  After a thorough review of company history, products, services, team and reputation, select companies are awarded the Smarter Loans Quality Badge, a symbol of trust and quality in the industry. The Smarter Loans Quality Badge is awarded to financial companies with an established track record that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellent product offerings, customer service, responsible lending practices, transparency and safety for all Canadians.

Smarter Loans is Canada's most trusted source of information about loans and financial companies. Launched in 2016, Smarter Loans now helps over 40,000 nationwide make smarter financial decisions. Smarter Loans was named the 'GPS to the World of FinTech Lending' by the Toronto Star in 2019, and featured in many nationwide publications. Smarter Loans is a proud leader in the Canadian financial sector, and an active member of industry associations, including the Canadian Lenders Association, Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Equipment Financing and Leasing Association, Canadian Marketing Association and more.

The amount of money you can borrow depends entirely on the type of loan you are applying for, the purpose of the financing, and your individual financial and credit situation. Typically, an unsecured personal loan is between $500 and $15,000. A secured loan such as a home equity or a car title loan can be larger than an unsecured personal loan, because your personal assets are used as collateral. These loans can be between $5,000 and $150,000. Commercial unsecured loans such as working capital small business loans are usually between $10,000 and $100,000 but can be as high as $500,000. These numbers are simple approximations and will change from lender to lender, and from borrower to borrower. Taking on debt should not be taken lightly. Make sure to take the time to understand all the details of your terms and agreement if you are considering any kind of loan, regardless of the amount.

We do a "soft" credit pull via Transunion, which does not affect your credit score, but allows us to show you more pre-approved offers from Lenders. Some lenders may perform a soft or hard credit check once you apply directly with them.

Yes, if you're using a secure, verified platform and work only with licensed, reputable lenders. At Smarter Loans, we only work with trusted lenders who are licensed to operate in Canada. Our website uses industry-standard encryption, and you’ll never be charged for comparing loans. We connect you directly to the lender's secure application page, so you’re always in control of your personal information.

Smarter Loans can help Canadians find loans and financing for any purpose, including:

Personal Loans (instalment loans, short term loans, unsecured and secured personal loans)
Small Business Loans (working capital, unsecured term loans, merchant cash advances, invoice factoring)
Auto Loans
Truck and Trailer Financing (highway trucks, transportation equipment)
Equipment Financing (farming, agriculture, construction, medical and mor)
Mortgages (personal and commercial mortgages, refinancing, 1st and 2nd mortgages)
Home Equity Loans
Car Title Loans
Boats & Yachts Financing
Asset based lending
Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Loans
Loans for Newcomers to Canada
Auto Loan Refinancing

Some lenders offer instant decisions and same-day funding, while others may take 1-3 business days depending on the loan type and documents submitted.

The credit score needed to qualify for a loan depends on the type of loan and the lender. In general:

660+ is considered good and qualifies for most loans
575–659 is fair and may require a higher interest rate or a co-signer
Below 575 is considered bad credit, but options still exist with specialized lenders

Smarter Loans works with lenders that accept a wide range of credit profiles, including no credit or limited credit history.

Smarter Loans offers several unique types of resources to help Canadians make smarter financial decisions. This includes complete profiles for all companies that contain information on their products, interest rates, terms, fees, eligibility requirements and customer reviews. We also have a learning center with videos about how different loans work, interviews with lenders on our website, and over 200 articles on various topics.  The website also features tools like loan search, loan calculators, educational guides, and other helpful videos.